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warmonger
/ˈwɔːrˌmʌŋɡər/
person who encourages war
The politician was accused of being a warmonger for advocating military intervention.
The politician was criticized for encouraging war by pushing for military action.
formal
A person who encourages or advocates for war or military conflict, often for personal, political, or ideological gain.
Critics labeled the defense secretary a warmonger for his aggressive stance on foreign policy.
The defense secretary was called a warmonger because his strong foreign policy position seemed to promote war.
Historical records often describe certain leaders as warmongers who prioritized conquest over peace.
Many historical leaders who focused on conquest rather than peace are remembered as warmongers.
The term carries a strongly negative connotation, implying selfish or irresponsible motives behind the advocacy of war.
Collocations
accused of being a warmongercriticized for encouraging warwar-mongering rhetoricspeech or writing that promotes warstop being a warmongercease advocating for war
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Pro Tip
Avoiding Misuse
The term 'warmonger' should only be used for people who actively encourage war, not for those who support military defense or justified conflicts. It carries a strong negative judgment.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Use 'warmonger' in formal or political contexts where you want to emphasize the irresponsible or selfish promotion of war. Avoid using it casually or in contexts where war is justified.
Word Origin
From the combination of 'war' and 'monger' (from Old English 'mangere', meaning 'merchant' or 'seller'). Originally used in the 16th century to describe someone who profited from or promoted war, often in a derogatory sense.
Usage Notes
The term is almost always used critically and implies that the person is acting irresponsibly or selfishly by advocating for war. It is more common in political or historical contexts than in casual conversation.
Word Breakdown
war
armed conflict between nations or groups
rootmonger
a person who promotes or sells something undesirable
suffixEnglish Dictionary